Crews rescue father, 2 kids in S. Carolina national park

4/29/2014

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this photo made available by the National Park Service, JR Kimber receives medical assistance at Congaree National Park in Hopkins, S.C., Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Kimber and his two children were lost in the park for two days. They were rescued and are all in stable condition. (AP Photo/National Park Service)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rescue personnel attend to Dakota Kimbler, 10 and his sister Jade Kimbler, 6, after they were lost with their father inside Congaree National Park.

CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK, S.C. — The father who took his two children for a hike and ended up lost in the swamps and forests of Congaree National Park for more than two days says next time he will take his kids to the skating rink.

J.R. Kimbler spoke to reporters today after spending six hours in the emergency room. He says part of him felt like the worst father in the world for getting his children lost, but part of him was proud he was able to keep them alive for almost 60 hours.

Kimbler, his 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter had no water, food or a trail map when they went hiking Saturday afternoon.

Rescuers found the family around 4:30 a.m. today. Doctors say they were dehydrated and scratched up, but were otherwise fine.

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